Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2014 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis | VU | passage (2013–2014) | 60–120 individuals | A1 |
| Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca | NT | breeding (2013–2014) | 30–35 breeding pairs | A1, B2 |
| Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis | LC | breeding (2013–2014) | 30–40 breeding pairs | B2 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | passage (2013–2014) | min 20,000 individuals | A4iii |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2014. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2013 | not assessed | high | very low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | unknown | |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Pollution | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Some of site covered (10–49%) | No management planning has taken place | Very little or no conservation action taking place | very low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Valeni Denudation | Natural Monument (III) | - |
| 1991 | Prutul de jos | Scientific Reserve (Ia) | - |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 40 | Humid grasslands |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | 35 | Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves; Other urban and industrial areas |
| Wetlands (inland) | 19 | Standing freshwater; Rivers and streams; Water fringe vegetation |
| Forest | 8 | Alluvial and very wet forest |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| not utilised | 27 |
| nature conservation and research | 26 |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 24 |
| forestry | 15 |
| agriculture | 8 |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lower Prut River and Manta-Beleu Lake (Moldova). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lower-prut-river-and-manta-beleu-lake-iba-moldova on 25/01/2025.